This series is very Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson — if Holmes were an older woman with snowy white hair named Ana who usually wears a blindfold and eats lots of rare-ish meat and Watson were a 20-something-year-old bisexual man named Din who has been genetically modified to remember absolutely everything. Ana and Din have great banter, play off each other’s strengths — and are brilliant at solving crimes.

The first book in this series was great, but this one, the second, was sensational. I loved everything about it. Our characters continue to grow, the fantasy world is built out further, and the mystery is remarkably well-plotted and satisfying. Din and Ana have been called to the outskirts of the empire and presented with a troubling mystery: A Treasury officer disappeared from a guarded, locked room that towers off the ground — and pieces of him have been found in a nearby source of water rife with smugglers. The obvious threat comes from an individual who might even be smarter than Ana, someone who always seems to be steps ahead and seems to know things no one should be able to know. What progresses is a story of murder, corruption, intrigue, and treason, as Robert Jackson Bennett combines a fascinating story of politics in a fantasy world with a brilliantly clever mystery. He has found his footing.

In this book, nothing comes out of left field — there are no “gotcha” moments. Instead, Bennett puts clues in what seem to be throw-away conversations, which makes every reveal satisfying. His mystery is so complex that he can give little solutions along the way — no final-chapter denouement — to draw readers even further into the mystery.

This book is full and complex but easy to follow (perhaps because we’re already familiar with the setting and political structure and didn’t need some of the world-building slog the first book had). The characters are even more interesting in this book. Din is heartbroken, sleep-deprived, in debt as a result of his father’s death, questioning his role in the empire, and just generally being a mess. (I love him.) The side characters in this story feel like real people who add fullness to the story. And Ana is teetering on the edge of… something that seems dangerous and bad and shrouded in mystery, but her brilliance remains untouched, and her quirkiness remains as fun as ever.

Sherlock who?

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bennett sure knows how to weave an intricate mystery! This book is labeled as fantasy - but to me, it feels more like sci fi with a bit of fantasy woven in (like the two had a baby, and one had more dominant genes). This is the second book in his An Ana and Din mystery / Shadow of the Leviathan series. It very much feels like a continuation of the previous book, including the slow unspooling of yarn feeling established in the first book. Bennett skillfully weaves his world building and character development through elements of the mystery, which is the predominant component of the three. While this is beautifully done and a masterful literary tactic, it did cause me to pause and reread many sentences in an estimation that they may be “important.” Ultimately, this almost pulled me out of the story each time and wasn’t altogether fruitful. While many (most?) of these re-read sentences were important, I couldn’t possibly keep them straight in my head. It will make for such rich re-reads of the entire books, though.

Ana is quirky, and we find out more about her as this novel concludes. The point of view is solely told by Din once again, which allows the reader to simultaneously have the upper hand (he is brilliant) and not understand what is going on remotely (the mystery is, well, a mystery. And Ana is a mystery in and of herself). The editing is really well done, for it’s a complex novel that manages to hold onto moderate pacing successfully. It’s completely different than anything I’ve ever read while maintaining the Holmes-and-Watson feel that it’s billed to have. It’s a juxtaposition in every direction - from the nature of the novel, to the fantasy-but-is-it-sci fi setting, to trying to pinpoint if the novel’s progression is of the mystery or characters themselves. Which is all to say that it’s as brilliant as its eccentric lead and her augmented assistant.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for my ARC of A Drop of Corruption in exchange for my honest opinion.

The first book in this mystery series by Robert Jackson Bennett utterly captivated me, dragging me deep into the strange workings of Bennett's immersive fantasy world and not letting me go. When the second book of the series became available on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance and requested to read an advance copy. I'm thrilled to report that his new story did not disappoint! Anyone with a love of strangely unsettling, unique fantasy worlds blended with a twisty mystery should be handed these books. I loved every moment spent with Din and Ana and am very much looking forward to more stories set in this complex, plant-riddled world.

I read The Tainted Cup last month, and as soon as I finished I RUSHED to see when the next book was coming out. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy (thanks Netgalley and Random House!) and whewww get excited y’all.

If you haven’t read Tainted Cup, I strongly encourage you to start there. While the mystery element is the primary genre here, there is a fantastic amount of worldbuilding that is immersive without being overwhelming. The first book sets up elements of that world (at the risk of oversimplifying, superhuman-like abilities are derived from enhancements created by apothecaries), and our main character Dinios Kol is an “engraver”, a detective’s assistant who can remember with perfect clarity everything that he sees. This is the second story where we see Din support Ana, the eccentric and brilliant detective, as they go to the outer edge of the Empire to solve the murder of a tax man who mysteriously disappeared from a locked room one night and was found brutally murdered miles away.

Of course the mystery aspect kept me on my toes, but the thing that makes me so excited to keep returning to this world is the way that Bennett makes sure that even tiny worldbuilding details are going to show up as relevant to the mystery, even in the political intrigue and drama of the Empire. I also love the dynamic between Ana and Din as they learn each others’ secrets and grow to depend on each other.

Strongly recommend to any of my fellow fantasy and mystery lovers! I already anticipate this being one of my top reads of 2025.

What can I say, it’s a banger and I’m starting my reread right now. What I liked about this book:
- I found the new lore very interesting, especially parts of the setting, and it sets things up very well for the emotional climax of the book.
- The writing and dialogue are still 👌

Things I didn’t like:
- I didn’t find the primary emotional conflict of the book as satisfying as I hoped it would be, in either its origins or resolution. Who knows though, maybe I’ll change my mind on my first (or second) reread.

(disclaimer: I prayed for and was granted an ARC of this book from NetGalley)

Hello 2025, in 2024 Tainted cup was in my top reads of the year. So being gifted an ARC is just amazing, since drop of corruption was a high anticipated read this year. Thanks netgalley!

Normally Im a huge fantasy reader but no mystery. Still Robert is taking Sherlock Holmes to another level.

Book one has quit some world building and in this sequel it even expanse, wich was intimidating but still easy to comprehend.

So happy to see Din and Ana back together solving a mystery outside of the Empire. We get to know Din from a diffirent side aswel wich I found funny, but poor Din and his heartaches…. Ana stays a mystery untill the end but even with her we got again enough crumbs to look even more foreward to book 3.
I just love this combined mystery how well its put together, hints tucked away in sentences wich you only remember afterwards:)
We just roll from one problem or partial solution to the other and its just a fantastic read!

Thank you again! And cant wait for book 3

Thanks for the advanced copy of this amazing book! The relationships are very realistic and I loved the bond between the leads! The relationship between the main couple was written really well! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys mystery stories! I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

A Drop of Corruption is the second in this series and it follows Ana a brilliant yet eccentric detective and Din, her loyal but suffering (from Ana's brilliance) assistant.

The setting for this story is vastly different that the previous which took place in a city within the Empire, while this takes place in somewhere the Empire is not as present, both in person and in influence. The story itself is brilliantly laid out and kept me guessing till at least 80% of the book at which point, I suspected the twist but I didnt know for certain or how it would be revealed.

This book also explores the relationship between Ana and Din - I love their interactions and the revelations made, they're both very funny characters. We have very interesting and important revelations and character growth on both their ends in this book and I cannot wait to see how this translates into later installments.

Robert Jackson Bennet has a way with world building, and here we've explored a lot more about the ways that the 'magic' is influenced onto the people, and it makes me hungry to see more of the world.

Overall, what a brilliant continuation for the second installment of the series. Having read the The Founders Trilogy by the author he continues to write characters and worlds where I would love to sit down and see more of, even the supporting cast he introduces are interesting and rounded individuals in their own right.

Absolutely fucking magical. I’m a massive fan of mystery SFF, but so often find books are unable to meet the needs of both genres. This series does it wonderfully. The worldbuilding is top tier, the magic system is interesting and immersive, and the characters—particularly Ana—shine. Like the first book in the series, the mystery itself is relatively easy to unravel, but I honestly didn’t care. When the characters and world are this compelling, reading is a joy, even if you’ve figured out how things will end. I will be waiting very impatiently for the next installment.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

This was a fun story, much like the first. It has a lot of the same elements- some body horror, Ana knowing more than everyone else, Din still being a little clueless. I would've liked Din to grow a bit more between books, though. I don't know how at this point he still thinks he would be able to keep a secret from Ana. It's not like he's gotten way smarter or Ana less so. Some parts are a bit predictable, but I still enjoyed it.

4.5 Stars—Rounded Up!

Dinios Kol is confused—he’s bi, he’s in debt, and he’s investigating a murder. Of course.

I love this series, and I’ll say something I rarely admit: I might have enjoyed this sequel even more than the first book. Robert Jackson Bennett has once again masterfully woven together fantasy, breathtaking world-building, humor, heart, and mysteries that keep the plot surging forward with twists and surprises at every turn. Every time I pick up one of Bennett’s books, I’m reminded just how much I adore his writing as I’m immediately swept back into his incredible worlds.

I think part of what made this sequel shine for me was the foundation laid in the first book. There was a bit of a learning curve with the world building in book 1, but this time we’re thrown back into the world with a solid framework already in place. That familiarity let me focus more on the mystery and dive into the story right away.

The political commentary in this installment was also a standout. The exploration of why humanity clings to the idea of kingdoms and savior-figures, the workings (and failings) of bureaucracy, the nature of power, and how it corrupts—all of it felt fascinating and incredibly relevant. I especially appreciated how these themes were dissected and, in the end, deemed so pathetically trite and uninspired as motivations.

And the characters? Just perfection. Din is unapologetically himself—messy, confused, and relatable—and Ana is quirky, weird, and absolutely brilliant. These two feel so alive, as if they’ve had a bit of real life breathed into them. I can’t help but root for them and revel in their chaos.

I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group—Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy RJB's writing and the streak continues, but I'm not quite sure this series is for me. The setting and world building are quite interesting but at its heart this is a Sherlock & Watson mystery, and I got a little tired of the interrogations and the sudden insights. If a Sherlock story set in a very original fantasy world sounds up your alley, you'll likely love this and the other books in the series.

The first book in this series had its flaws, but I liked enough about it to know that I would continue with the series and hoped that it would only get better.
And while I definitely prefer the mystery in this sequel to the first book, and while the world is still interesting, I was still somewhat let down.

The setup for the mystery is great, and I enjoyed the journey to get to the answer, but the reveal itself turned out to be predictable and clichéd.
I also didn’t care for the politics. What this book has to say about kings and empires, and the way that subject was handled, was not great.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

4.5 stars – A Drop of Corruption was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and it in no way disappointed. I have docked half a point simply because I was able to guess a number of the twists, though this did not take away from my enjoyment.

A year after the events in A Tainted Cup, Ana and Din are charged with investigating yet another mysterious death, this time on the very edge of the Empire. Here, the duo must contend with not only a Kingdom at odds with their Imperial presence but also a killer whose genius is unlike anything Ana has encountered before. As Din toils to record all he sees, to unravel innumerable questions, it becomes apparent that the Shroud, a place of untold danger and promise, might hold the answers they seek.

Though A Drop of Corruption offers just as many twists as its predecessor, I was also won over by the exploration of Din and Ana as individuals, their relationship, and their journey forward. Din’s experience as Ana’s assistant has begun to take its toll; his motivations in this novel are less marked by survival or disguising his past, instead they look toward the future he aspires to but feels he cannot have. We also come to know more about Ana, though she remains as cryptic as ever, which I believe sets us up wonderfully for the interpersonal core of what a third installment yet to come. Bey0nd the surprise and intrigue this type of story-telling entails, it is these characters which keep me coming back.

As such, I must echo reviewers in expressing how much I love Din and Ana. Robert Jackson Bennet does a wonderful job of characterizing them in a way which is endearing and frank. They are our messy, messy duo—vomit, blood, and all! This treatment extends to his other characters as well who are so vivid on the page, to the point that I do not wish to see them go at the story’s close. This novel also allowed us more time within the world (which was much easier to follow and visualize now that I am familiar with it) and expands on its history and the political climate beyond the Empire’s walls. All in all, it gave me exactly what I wanted; more of this world and more of the characters.

And yet I still need more, more, more! The third book cannot come soon enough.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House Publish Group – Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the pleasure of reading an advance copy to review.

I enjoyed this second installment in the series. The quirky characters are interesting and I liked finding out more about this world that they inhabit. I was glad to see a new mystery to solve and have new characters introduced as well. The plot did seem to drag here and there for me, but I am still looking forward into diving into the next book in this series.

A delightful continuation of the Ana and Din adventures, offering more insight into the intricate world Bennett created.

Second books in a series are often the hardest, it seems, having to live up to expectations set by the first one and lacking the advantage of either dwelling on world-building or introducing the culmination that normally comes at the very end of the larger arc. So inevitably this was a slower paced novel than The Tainted Cup, but thoroughly enjoyable even so: the crime was as convoluted as I've come to expect based on book one (much body horror included), the chase exhilarating, the stakes high and the character development gradual and natural.

The introduction of a faux Medieval type of society existing right next to the more familiar empire was a surprise, but it made for a more interesting and multi-layered narrative. I confess that while reading about it I did not really draw the parallels that Bennett elaborated on in his Afterword, but I was actually happy to then sit there for a minute and consider the story from a slightly different angle. And honestly, this is the kind of books I'm whole-heartedly here for: fantastically engaging and fun to read, but also thought-provoking in more ways than one. Can't wait to learn what the future holds for these characters and this world!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this early, will be absolutely adding this to my library as it hits the shelves.

amazing writing, loved every moment of the story. the world and it's people and it's issues are so complicated and interesting and the mystery adds a little color to it and is exciting too but it's really the people and what causes the mystery that grips you. loved every moment of it and hoping to read more of these series.

Marvelous. Great. Unpredictable. The riddle is riddling, the mysteries are unravel in extraordinary plot and storyline. This far, A Drop of Corruption is easily becoming my 1st 5star read in 2025.

I love the writing
To me who was not a native, at first it was hard to comprehend each word and the meaning behind. But as story goes, i got mesmerized with all the choice of words the author decided to put.

There were the mysteries along with the fun (mostly Malo did) and not to mention all the odd Ana Dolabra brings.

The story itself reminds me so much to a Japanese Manga I once read (and i put down because it was so complicated), this is too complicated but the writing made it easier to enjoy.

Oh how i love mysteries and investigations plot in fantasy book 🫶🏻

Thank you for the ARC. I love this book so much

A Drop of Corruption is a fantastic continuation to The Tainted Cup. Robert Jackson Bennett somehow expands this lush eco-sci/fi world while also keeping me intrigued about the new and old characters.
Din and Ana are far from home in a new country and faced with a mystery that includes death, kings, and a dangerous mastermind. No one does mystery like RJB, and I was hooked trying to guess how the mystery of this chapter of Din and Ana's story would expand. Every revelation was a small explosion that blew away my expectations and left me wondering how their case was going to resolve.
I just love this world and Din. As with the first, I was taken with how complex and nature-based the world and science was. I can NOT wait to see where they go next. I truly hope that this becomes a serialized series so that I can read about them forever.

4.5 stars. REALLY satisfying mystery. I love how convoluted the various schemes are and how brilliantly Ana and Din solve them. The world was fascinating in book one and has only grown more interesting. The plots are intricate, maybe slightly too intricate, tbh, but I liked that about this book.

I,, uh, read it twice so I could grasp all the plot points, and also for the pure enjoyment of it.

Queer interest tag for the bisexual protagonist.

(copied from my GoodReads review)